Clausnitz
Encyclopedia
Clausnitz is a village in the municipality of Rechenberg-Bienenmühle
in the Saxon district of Mittelsachsen. It lies in the Eastern Ore Mountains
, in the valley of the Rachel, a tributary of the Freiberger Mulde
. Clausnitz emerged during the clearings
of the 12th century. It is a typical Waldhufendorf
, that has preserved its tidy, village character today with its rural two- and three-sided farmsteads and timber-framed houses.
settlers around 1200 in the course of the agricultural colonisation of the ancient forest that covered the entire Ore Mountains. Its settlement was carried out by the feudal lords at Purschenstein Castle
. The village was first mentioned in the records in 1398, spelt as Clussenicz. The village name changed in the following centuries through Klawßnitz (1451) and Clawsenicz (1479) to Claußnitz (1641). Clausnitz developed quickly into a comparatively large farming village. By 1551 the place had 46 freeholding farmers (besessene Mann) and 172 other home owners (Inwohner), i.e. a total of about 400 inhabitants. The economic basis of the village was agriculture and, in the 15th and 16th centuries, intensive mining for silver and copper ore.
On 10 July 1563 Clausnitz's priest, Wolfgang Uhle, killed the corrupt local judge, George Bieber, in a fight. The site is commemorated by the Priest Uhle Stone (Pfarrer Uhle Stein).
Rechenberg-Bienenmühle
Rechenberg-Bienenmühle is a municipality in the district of Mittelsachsen, in Saxony, Germany.- References :...
in the Saxon district of Mittelsachsen. It lies in the Eastern Ore Mountains
Eastern Ore Mountains
The Eastern Ore Mountains form a natural region that covers the eastern part of the Saxon Ore Mountains. It is part of the major landscape unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands...
, in the valley of the Rachel, a tributary of the Freiberger Mulde
Freiberger Mulde
The Freiberger Mulde is a river in Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Mulde and 124 km in length.The source of the river is in the Ore Mountains, near Moldava, in the Czech Republic. It runs northwest, crossing the border with Germany after a few km, to Freiberg , and further...
. Clausnitz emerged during the clearings
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
of the 12th century. It is a typical Waldhufendorf
Waldhufendorf
The Waldhufendorf is a form of rural settlement established in areas of forest clearing with the farms arranged in a series along a road or stream, like beads on a chain...
, that has preserved its tidy, village character today with its rural two- and three-sided farmsteads and timber-framed houses.
History
Clausnitz was probably founded by FrankishFranks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
settlers around 1200 in the course of the agricultural colonisation of the ancient forest that covered the entire Ore Mountains. Its settlement was carried out by the feudal lords at Purschenstein Castle
Purschenstein Castle
Purschenstein Castle in Neuhausen/Erzgeb. in East Germany was built in the late 12th century, around 1200, probably by Boresch I . The toll and escort castle protected a salt road running from Central Germany to Bohemia...
. The village was first mentioned in the records in 1398, spelt as Clussenicz. The village name changed in the following centuries through Klawßnitz (1451) and Clawsenicz (1479) to Claußnitz (1641). Clausnitz developed quickly into a comparatively large farming village. By 1551 the place had 46 freeholding farmers (besessene Mann) and 172 other home owners (Inwohner), i.e. a total of about 400 inhabitants. The economic basis of the village was agriculture and, in the 15th and 16th centuries, intensive mining for silver and copper ore.
On 10 July 1563 Clausnitz's priest, Wolfgang Uhle, killed the corrupt local judge, George Bieber, in a fight. The site is commemorated by the Priest Uhle Stone (Pfarrer Uhle Stein).
Places of interest
- Neugrabenflöße
- St. Michael's Gallery (St. Michaelis Stolln)
- Village church: The Clausnitz church was used in the pre-Reformation period as a pilgrimage church. The present building dates to 1696. Of note are the wooden ceiling, the altar, pulpit and font from the 17th century.
Sources
- anonym: Gütergeschichte von Clausnitz, Kreis Brand-Erbisdorf. zusammengestellt aus den Gerichtsbüchern und Grundbüchern. ohne Orts- und Verlagsangabe, ca. 1959